Become an Influencer

The Climate Emergency Forum welcomes Metta Spencer in a discussion about becoming a climate influencer. Metta explains that she believes there are at least six major interconnected global threats facing humanity and the need to look at them comprehensively.

This video was recorded on March 5th, 2024, and published on April 7th, 2024.

The dialogue features a discussion between Metta Spencer, a 92-year-old peace activist and former sociology professor, and the host Regina about becoming a climate influencer. Metta explains that she believes there are at least six major interconnected global threats facing humanity - war, weapons, global warming, famine, pandemics, cyber risks, and radioactive contamination. She emphasizes the need to look at these issues comprehensively rather than in isolation.

In 2018, Metta started an initiative called “How to Save the World in a Hurry” at the University of Toronto, which led to the creation of the “Save the World” project. This includes a website for sharing ideas, event listings, and Metta’s recorded conversations (592 so far) with global experts on the six threats. Metta now plans to create a course on Udemy teaching people how to become climate influencers, using excerpts from her conversations as lectures.

Metta argues that the first step in addressing climate change is simply getting people to talk about and engage with the issue openly. She believes many are scared but keeping those fears hidden. Her proposed course aims to encourage people to step out of their comfort zones, express their climate concerns, and take community action towards solutions like reducing emissions or geoengineering approaches. Metta sees influencing as a way to complement youth activism with the skills and resources of older generations.

Links:

• Metta Spencer (Website)

• How to Save the World in a Hurry (Video)

• Science for Peace (NGO)

• Project Save the World (Website)

• To Save the World (Metta’s YT Channel)

• Udemy

• Peace Magazine (Website)

• Chaos in the Climate Casino (CEF Video)

• Eco Grief (CEF Video)

• CO2 removal by enhanced rock weathering

• Blue Planet - Permanent Carbon Capture

• Marine Cloud Brightening (CEF Video)

• Ocean Restoration Update 2023 (CEF Video)

• The Canadian Pugwash Group

Special Guest:

• Metta Spencer - is a Canadian sociologist, writer, peace researcher, and activist. After completing a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1969 at the University of California, Berkeley, Spencer joined the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto’s Erindale College in 1971. She taught regularly in the university’s Peace and Conflict Studies Program, which she founded in 1989 and coordinated until her retirement in 1997. More recently she has become a climate influencer with her YouTube channel “ToSaveTheWorld”

Regular Panelists:

• Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Regina Valdez - Program Director, Climate Reality Project, NYC. GreenFaith Fellow and LEED Green Associate

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: Free Music Archive
• License: BY-NC 4.0

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions